Centrochelys sulcata (Miller, 1779)

Nomenclature

The African spurred tortoise, also commonly called the sulcata tortoise, has the scientific name Centrochelys sulcata (Miller, 1779).

Conservation Status and Distribution Context

It is an endangered species of tortoise that lives along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and the Sahel.

Species Size Ranking

It is the largest mainland tortoise species native to Africa, and the third-largest tortoise species in the world, ranking after the Galapagos tortoise and Aldabra giant tortoise.

Genus Classification

It is the only living species within its genus, Centrochelys.

Native Ecoregion

This species is native to the Sahara Desert and the Sahel, a transitional arid ecoregion of semiarid grasslands, savannas, and thorn shrublands.

Confirmed Native Range

Confirmed native populations exist in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Unconfirmed and Extirpated Populations

It may also occur in Somalia, Algeria, Benin, and Cameroon, and is possibly completely extirpated from Djibouti and Togo.

Habitat Topography Preferences

Individuals occupy hills, stable dunes, and flat areas that support shrubs and tall grass.

Proximity to Water Preferences

They also prefer to settle in regions near intermittent streams or rivers.

Burrowing Behavior

In these dry arid habitats, the tortoise digs deep burrows into the ground to reach moister soil, and stays inside these burrows during the hottest part of the day.

Aestivation Definition

This seasonal hot-weather inactivity is called aestivation.

Burrow Dimensions

Wild burrows can reach up to 15 meters in depth and 30 meters in length.

Burrow Ecosystem Interaction

When burrows stay moist, grasses and succulents often grow around their entrances; the tortoise's feces replenish nutrients in the soil, allowing these plants to keep growing as a food source for the animal.

Regional Size Variation

Sulcata tortoises that live in the Sudanese portion of the species' range grow to a significantly larger size at maturity than individuals from other regions.